Medical Care

The most important part of emergency medical treatment is the recognition of possible aluminum toxicity based on risks (eg, renal insufficiency, aluminum exposure) and symptoms (eg, altered mental status, anemia, osteoporosis).

Treatment of aluminum toxicity includes elimination of aluminum from the diet, TPN, dialysate, medications, antiperspirants, and an attempt at the elimination and chelation of the element from the body's stores.

Avoidance of aluminum is easily achieved once the need to do so is recognized.

Elimination is accomplished through the administration of deferoxamine through any of several routes.

Serum aluminum level greater than 50-60 µg/L (mcg/dL) suggests aluminum overload, may correlate with toxicity, and can be used as an indication to start chelation therapy in symptomatic patients.

Chelation therapy with deferoxamine should be initiated in consultation with a nephrologist and a medical toxicologist, and this can be performed upon admission.

Deferoxamine, the metal-free ligand of the iron-chelate isolated from the bacterium
Streptomyces pilosus, is used for acute and chronic iron toxicity and aluminum toxicity.

It has a high affinity for ferric iron and does not affect iron in hemoglobin or cytochromes.

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Surgical Care

No surgical care is applicable to this disorder. Hemodialysis is performed in conjunction with deferoxamine as therapy for whole-body chelation.

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Consultations

Usually, a nephrologist is already a part of the patient's medical team. If not, one should be consulted early in the course.

A hematologist and a neurologist may be able to assist with the patient's care.

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Diet

Since dietary aluminum is ubiquitous, no specific dietary guidelines are available for its avoidance. Special diets should be maintained for specific associated disease entities (eg, diabetes, renal failure).

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Activity

Activity modification may not be necessary unless the patient is at risk for frequent falls. If this is the case, a home attendant or family member should assist the patient with daily living activities.